US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plane made an unexpected landing in the United Kingdom during a return flight to the United States, the Pentagon announced on X.
The plane carrying Hegseth returning from the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Belgium had a “crack in the plane’s windshield.”
“The plane landed according to standard procedures and all on board, including Secretary Hegseth, are safe,” the government said.
Hegseth later wrote after landing: “Everything is fine. Thank God. Continue the mission!”
BBC Verify tracked the plane and found it began to lose altitude off the southwest coast of Ireland. It then headed east, after dropping to an altitude of 10,000 feet, according to FlightRadar24.
At this point, the plane began broadcasting a “code 7700” on its transponder. These are relayed to signify a general emergency on board, ranging from engine failure to depressurization to a medical emergency.
In February, a government plane carrying Secretary of State Marco Rubio also had to turn around due to a crack in the cockpit window.
Defense ministers met in Belgium on Wednesday to discuss security in Ukraine.
